Maternal dietary deficiency of n-3 fatty acids affects metabolic and epigenetic phenotypes of the developing fetus

Human babies are unique to have more fat in the brain and body, each contributing to 11-14% of body weight [1, 2]. Breastfeeding alone, therefore, cannot meet the demand for energy required for rapid growth and development of the baby. Moreover, the human fetal brain has a special requirement for docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6 n-3 (DHA). Thus DHA is conditionally essential and must be ensured in the human brain in multiple ways by the mother [3]. LCPUFAs play several important roles, namely energy homeostasis, signal transduction, eicosanoid production, and membrane structure-function [4-6].
Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids - Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Source Type: research